Bucket level

Abstract

The present invention provides an apparatus and a method for landscaping or leveling a ground surface wherein the apparatus is selectively configurable to adopt a bucket or a leveling bar configuration. The apparatus is mountable to a motive power source such as a skid steer loader, tractor, or the like. The apparatus may have a frame substantially configured as a bucket with a floor having front, middle, and rear sections, with the front and rear sections being fixedly attached to the side walls and the middle section being movable relative to the side walls to raise it above the front and rear sections to form a leveling bar. The apparatus may also have a pivotable door or gate that opens when the middle floor section is raised to create a material flow-through during operation.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. Apparatus for preparing a landscaping comprising: 
       a frame having a pair of side walls; a rear wall including a gate mounted for pivoting between open and closed positions; and a floor including front, middle, and rear floor sections, said middle floor section being mounted for movement from a closed position to an open position upwardly relative to said front and rear floor sections,  
       wherein when said gate is in its closed position and said middle floor section is in its closed position said apparatus may be used as a bucket and when said gate and said middle floor section are open said apparatus may be used as a leveling bar. 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1  and further including means for attaching said apparatus to a motive power source. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 1  and further including means for moving said gate between its closed and fully open positions. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 3  and further including means for opening and closing said middle floor section. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 1  and further including means for opening and closing said middle floor section. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 1  and further including means for substantially simultaneously opening said gate and said middle floor section. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein at least one of said floor sections includes an agitator for tumbling materials passing thereover. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said middle floor section comprises a base member and a pair of end plates attached to said base member. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein each said side wall includes a pair of spaced apart guide plates for slidably receiving therebetween an end plate of said middle floor section, said guide plates being provided to guide said middle floor section as it is being moved into its open position. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein at least one of said front and rear floor sections includes a front blade edge. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein at least one of said front and rear floor sections includes a rear blade edge. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said front and rear floor sections each includes a base member and each base member includes front and rear blade edges. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein at least one of said front and rear floor sections includes an agitator attached to said base member for tumbling materials passing thereover. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 1  and further including means for incrementally opening said gate and middle floor section.